Building Our Coop - Follow Our Progress!

[mcf3kids]

The linoleum on the floor was something I debated about and chose not to only because some people posted that it can get gouged when you clean it with a scraper (as can paint) but I was thinking it would be easier to do a thorough clean out and throw more paint down in a few years if I needed to. So on that wood I have 3 coats of Kilz primer and 3 coats of paint with a gloss finish (some of which was bathroom paint). With pine shavings over the wood I would think it would take many years for a rotting issue, right? We will be selling this house within 10 years so this may be my "learning coop".

DH completed the "poop hammock" yesterday under one of the roost bars - we have 2 bars and I think we may put up a "poop shelf" under the other - a work in progress that is for sure!! Will post pics of that later today but as a teaser here is a cute picture of one of my chicks at 5 days old - I think she is a speckled sussex - we have named her Esta.

 

[diggergal]

Paint is a very viable option. My dh has cautioned me about gouging the the floor with the shovel. There is no perfect solution but several viable options. That is what I love about this site. Take all the information and experiences of the byc's and choose what is best for your situation.

Cute chick!!! They sure don't stay that size long!!!!

How long before your chickies move into your beautiful coop?

 

[perchie.girl]

FWIW you can buy plastic shovels for scooping. I would think they would do the job and be a bit more forgiving on wood surfaces. There is also a whole set of tools in big garden stores designed just for kids. Small Rakes Small hoes Small shovels. All good sizes for working in confined spaces. Plus you can put the kids to work.


Personally I think paint is an excellent option. Especially if you are cleaning out the coop on a regular basis. It might be also good idea to caulk areas that mites could take up residence too. Anywhere two pieces of wood meet. The exterior kind that's paintable. The nice part about painting is you can always choose linoleum later. or Bathroom wall board... or DIY Rhino liner (still intrigued by that one from another thread comes in a can) or Horse Stall Mats... or Rubber rolled flooring. There are so many choices out there depending on availability preference and experience.

I use a Narrow stiff bristled push broom to clean my stall mats instead of a shovel. Narrow because it makes the job of pushing the broom easier when there is heavy material on it like a giant pile of Sand the horse kicked on it. Synthetic stiff bristles for scrubbing with water, plus the broom itself cleans and drys quicker. I would think that would work quite well for cleaning out a coop. Just push the stuff out the door and into a container.... no scooping and lifting.

 

[mrszlopez]

after going thru all of the many pages of this thread, it is safe to say that you guys have built my DREAM coop !!! its beautiful !!

 

[Christie Rhae]

Awesome coopage!! We built a "chicken condo" last summer. My husband is also a contractor, plumbing not carpenter, and over built our coop as well. What is it about those guys? lol
He insisted on putting studs every 16 inches. I wanted them 4 feet apart with a 2x4 horizontal between them. We live in Hawaii so it may be different but my husband is totally paranoid about having bare wood touching dirt. He thinks it will rot. So we had to pour a cement foundation for our coop.

The one thing I have learned and am going to do different (building a new coop this summer) is make it bigger than you need and then make it a little bigger than that. I have 16 chickens with 110 sq. feet of run space but am dealing with boredom/pecking. I now have to let them run in the yard when I am home to watch them to try to break them of it. With our new coop and run I will build it larger of course and will have a large fenced in area like a chicken corral so they can scratch and hunt for bugs but still be protected from the odd dog that cruises by. Then they can be locked up safer inside the run if need be.
Our weather is pretty much the same all year so I am only going to put 3 solid walls on the coop. Most of my girls all want to sleep on the outside roosts anyway! So we are gonna have an indoor/outdoor-coop/run. I hope this style of building will be less expensive too as we will not need any windows, etc. I am gonna insist on 2x4's set every 4 feet. Use the expensive hardware cloth on the bottom 4 feet then go with something a little less expensive for the rest.
And of course the real reason I am doing all this new coop planning is cuz I am ordering 24 fertile blue wheaton Ameraucana eggs this summer! lol! Chickens are addicting. Beware! Can't wait for my incubator to arrive!! ack I have a problem!

chicken fever!!

image of our summer 2010 coop...

 

[NonnasBabies]

Quote:
VERY cute chick!! But just a FYI it's not a SS!!

I really like the idea of putting the 2x4's together side my side so you get the best of both!! Sturdiness & larger, flatter roosting area!!

 

[mcf3kids]

OK Barred Babies you can't say she isn't an SS and then not tell me what you think she is - lol - thats just not nice

Her belly is yellow and she does have the brown stripe on the top of her head down towards her back - do you think she is a Rhode Island Red? or a Gold Buff? Those are the breeds she could be unless the hatchery sent me something I didn't order.

 

[mcf3kids]

Here is another picture of Esta - not to change this thread to identify this chick but Barred Babies doesn't think she is a Speckled Sussex soooo this leads me to the question - what is Esta??

 

[Tikkijane]

Quote:
My vote goes for RIR... fwiw.

 

[bryan99705]

Nice coop, like the door latch. If a coon opens that...get a gun